■ noun
1》 a strongly unpleasant bodily sensation such as is caused by illness or injury.
2》 mental suffering or distress.
3》 (also ~ in the neck or vulgar slang arse ) informal an annoying or tedious person or thing.
4》 ( ~s ) careful effort.
■ verb cause mental or physical ~ to.
↘ chiefly N. Amer. (of a part of the body) hurt.
Phrases
on (or under ) ~ of on penalty of.
Derivatives
~ed adjective
Origin
ME: from OFr. peine , from L. poena 'penalty', later '~'.